Fuel briquette



Patented Feb. 12, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FUELVBRIQUETTE No Drawing.

Application January 18, 1933, Serial No. 652,423

4 Claims. (CI. 44-20) 5 briquettes which may be handled without disintegration and, while burning, will retain their general form.

Among other objects of the "invention, I provide an improved binder for effecting under compression strong and positive union between the fuel particles of which the briquette is mainly composed, the said binder being of such a char-' acter that but very limited quantities thereof are necessaryto maintain the solidity of the briquette and to avoid crumbling, the release of fuel dust or other disintegration thereof under the usual conditions of handling, storage and transportation.

Another object is to provide an improved briquette binder comprising generally a hydraulic cement, which is present in excess of 75% by weight of the total binder, and to this cement there is added a small amount of a heavy petroliferous substance such as asphalts or petroleum residues, a small amount of a metallic salt and other smoke-reducing and combustion aiding material.

Thus in the manufacture of my improved fuel briquette, the latter consists primarily of such solid combustible substances as coal fines, coke breeze, peat, petroleum coke, sawdust, charcoal and the like. To unite these materials in briquette form under compression, my improved binder comprises the following materials. which may be grouped in the order indicated:

Group 1.-A finely divided hydraulic cement, to which is added: r

Group 2.A small amount of one or more of the following: pitch, tar, bitumen, bituminous residues, asphalts, petroleum residues, rosin, resins or resinates.

Group 3.-A small amount of one or more of the following metallic salts: ferric chloride, ferric sulfate, magnesium sulfate, sodium sulfate, magnesium sodium chloride, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, sodium phosphate, barium chloride, calcium oxy-chloride, sodium hypochloride. In this group of materials, I may employ a preparation composed principally of lime and calcium chloride.

Group 4.-A small amount of a mixture made of the following ingredients: sodium or potassium dichromate 0.2 part to 5 parts; sodium or potassium nitrate 0.5 part to 10 parts; sodium or potassium chloride 98.1 to 77 parts; sodium or suits, the ingredients should have a fineness of potassium permanganate 0.1 part to 2 parts; manganese dioxide 0.1 part to 1 part; manganese perchloride 0.1 part to 1 part; carbon 1.0 part to 5 parts.

The above ingredients found in Groups 1 to 4, 5 are mixed and blended in substantially the following proportions, either by parts or by per cent: a

Group 1. 1077.5 parts to 980 parts or 99.65% to 75%.

Group 2. 1.0 part to parts or 0.2% to 10%.

Group 3. 1.0 part to 40 parts, or 0.1% to 10%.

Group 4. 0.5 part to 10 parts or 0.05% to 5%.

To produce a successful binder from the materials above specified, it is ordinarily necessary to grind all components of the binder together, so that the resultant powder produced has a fineness of substantially 87% through a 200 mesh per linear inch screen or sieve, but for best re- 93% to 95% capable of passing through a 200 mesh sieve. It is this finely divided or powdered state of the binder which enables it, when mixed with the fuel particles, to readily spread over all surfaces of the fuel particles in a uniform and thinly distributed manner. Preferably, I obtain this powdered form of the binder by passing the same through a rotary grinding mill, containing metallic 'or other grinding elements, whereby through this process of attrition, the desired fineness of the ingredients of the binder is secured. A tubular grinding mill may be used advantageously in obtaining a continuous grinding operation. The binder may be added to the fuel body in proportions varying from pounds to pounds to one ton (2000 pounds) of coal fines. Moisture is then added to the extent of from 5% to 6% by weight of the whole mass, including coal and binder. The amount of moisture so added will, of

course, vary with the normal moisture contentof 40 the fuel. The entire mass is then placed under compression of not less than substantially 700 pounds per square inch and the briquette is then in such form that it may be handled in an ordinary manner without any appreciable disintegration. 45

The briquette may be either cubical or of other desired shape, and its particles will be found to be so bonded that in the actual burning thereoff the briquette does not melt or completely disintegrate, as heretofore, but rather retains its approximate shape until the briquette or cube is substantially completely consumed. This characteristic is due largely to the improved binder and the pressure under which it is made. .briquette, aided by the bonding agent, the fuel Due to the density of the a burns more slowly than the coal or other fuel from which it is made, at the same time, due to the chemicals contained in the binder, it burns with 'a very high heat. This characteristic is apparently attributable to the complete and rapid combustion of the slowly released particles of coal with the supporting combustible in the binder. The binder imparts high early stren th to a briquette and is both fast setting and quick hardening} Also, the binder serves as an immediate bonding agent on the fuel particles while the cement is developing its quick hardening and high early, strength properties. The use of the binder results in the production of a fuel briquette having t Produces a tacky condition in the resultant ceimproved combustion qualities in that it is sub.- stantially smokeless and burns with a non-clinkering ash.

The addition of one or more of the constituents of the compounds specified in Group 2, above, parts to the hinder the following properties: First,

that'when added to the-fuel particles in the de-.

sired proportimsand mixed with a ded mo u thebimie will quickly (diffuse itself throughout the e ti mortar mass-and cover all the particles with the bonding agent. Again, these compounds are readily combustible of themselves and; therefore,

7 promote combustion of the fuel particles, and pro.-

,duce' practi ally no 7 'Iihey also increase the B. t. 11. content of the resultant fuel briquette and when mixed with the fuel produce an immediately effiectivebondingaction. V s

The addition of ne or more of the m ta li found in Group 8, above, to the binder, accelerates its settin time an increa e i strength. .In other words, theadditi o hes salts provide a iast setting cement binder, .one the ability to ha den qu kly and of hi h earlystrength. fllhe fast setting and h h ea strength ,prQDe ties ,of the binder are best ob.- tained by in o porating th salts in th c ment during .grindingthereof. to produce'what I consider to be the best results, it is necessary to rind @211 components of the .binder together so that .the resultant powder produced has ,at least a fineness Of 87% through-a 20,0:meshscreen and pref rablya fineness ofirom-93% to,95% throu h .suchasereen. V

Illhe mixture of ingredients found in G oup A may .be added, as indica ed, to the bind in sm amounts. This mixture, .if used, (also accelerates the setting time and increases .the strength of .thebinder. ilt acts .as anaidto the com u n the briquette ,by preventing smoking and the formation .of soot. The mixture ,set forth in Group A contains oxy en carriers which, der the influence of ,heahyive off small amounts of xyg n nd other comb tibl materials which aid and support combustion.

'Inthe process of manufacturing this hydraulic cement binder, the various ingredients are all added to and thoroughly incorporated with the hydraulic cement, preferably Portland cement, or

.cunker by g i d together. .This p oduces weight. ei h f f el can be use l- Th s u usu l other fuel fromwhich it'is made.

' lowingclaims.

both a physical and a chemical combination of the materials which imparts to the binder the special characteristics hereinbefore mentioned.

In my invention,'the cement is used as the primary material in the binder, but the added ingredients act as immediate bonding agents. In addition, they also accelerate the hydration of the cement, thereby permitting the use of a minimum amount of the cement binder. For.

example '75 pounds ofthe binder will briquette one ton (2000 pounds) of coal fines, so that such briquettes can be shipped, in open cars and dumped from elevated trestles without appreciable damage. V

60 pounds of binder can be used to a ton of coal withnayailable improved cements or with ordinary cement binder if the briquettes are put 1n packages or cartons.

It will beobserve'd that '75 pounds of binder to a ton of coal is aratio of 1:27 by weight and -,60 pounds to a ton of coal is a ratio of 1:33 by 'The binder inapproximately 4% by I low p opo tio f ,binde -t h coa s main y tt i ab e to the fin ne s o owd ed state o the binder, as above specified, and also use of the ingredients found in Groups 1 to 4 My improved composite fuel is newin it s burnring char-acteristics'in that it contains ingredients that ass s i burn g th br quette and whieh are combustible in themselves. Cer-tain pf these ingredients; notably those contained in G roup .4, liberate a small amount ofoxygen whenburning, Th bod of e, im o d u Whil de e ye.

has sufficient voids and pores to permit the escape of, gases generated by heat, thus admitting of access on the part of oxygen to these fuel gases .so that the latter burn at the surface 9f the bri uette, r le s ng a intens he t .2u ne the bur in o the br ue t the ,e m ntdie t sretes under the action of heat and permits of the radual re as o he smelipert e es o coal or her u The .ni h iqu te made in at. pa ie c -with t p e tin-ue t ou s o bon ed a b und h t s a u burn n tsi e.s:no melt or completely disintegrate, but rather realu it a pro im t sha eruuti sub t t e lye umed.- mh she eete i ti 'is d e imari t e binde a d the pressu e u d which i i ma As sta ed t e io m ti no he b ir .q e t t mac u diri ap l n p eseureto" .1 96 p und pe s uar .i eh- .Wi t es p i ssures, I have obtained the results and burning characteristics above mentioned; Due to the density of thezbriquette, aided by the bonding agent and'the pressures abovespecified, the fuel burns appreciably more slowly than the coal or At the same time, due to the chemicals contained in the binder, it burns with a very high heat, which is attributable to the complete and rapid combustion. of the slowly releasedparticles of coal with the supporting combustibles in the binder.

It is of course possible to Vary Within certain limits the proportions and ingredients entering into the composition of my improved binder as above specifically set forth. without departing from the underlying spirit and scope of the invention, a th la t a been d i ediut eio What is claimed is:

1. A new article of manufacture, a solid fuel briquet formed under pressures between 700 pounds per square inch and 1506 pounds per square inch and consisting of a solid combustible fuel and a binder in proportions of the order of 60 to 75 pounds of binder to a ton of fuel, said binder comprising a mixture of hydraulic cement from 75% to 99.65%, hydrocarbon from .2% to 10%, metallic salt .l% to 10% for quick setting of the cement, oxygen-liberating material .05% to said mixture being ground to a fineness such that at least 87% passes through a 200 mesh screen.

2. A new article of manufacture, a solid fuel briquette comprising a binder and a solid combustible fuel in the ratio of approximately 4% by Weight of binder, said binder comprising a mixture of hydraulic cement from 75% to 99.65%, hydrocarbon from .2% to metallic salt .1% to 10% for quick setting of the cement, oxygenliberating material .05% to 5%; said mixture being ground to a fineness such that at least 87% passes through a 200 mesh screen.

3. A solid fuel briquette having high early strength formed under pressures between 700 pounds per square inch and 1500 pounds per square inch and comprising coal and a binder in approximate proportions of to 75 pounds of binder per ton of coal, said binder containing at least 75 of Portland cement ground to a fineness such that at least 87% passes through a 200 mesh screen.

4. A fuel briquette including a binder capable of imparting high early strength, fast setting and quick hardening to a solid fuel briquette, said binder being in the proportions of from 60 to pounds per ton of coal, said binder comprising a mixtureof hydraulic cement from 75% to 99.65%, hydrocarbon petroliferous material, metallic salt for quick setting of the cement, and said binder ground to a fineness such that at least 87% passes through a 200 mesh screen.

LEVERITT I. LOGHRY. 

